Jerome Rex

Hip hop with soul

Controllerism is HARD!

In case you missed it, I got myself a hardware controller recently. My idea at the time was to play it like an instrument, using it to trigger my instrumentals and backing vocals when I perform live on stage. Here’s an update!

It’s a few months since I got my Launchpad Mini but, despite that, I’ve only really had a few hours of practice in total – hopelessly too little to become proficient at it. Part of the reason for this is because of these 2 things I have at home called “small children”. Another reason is this activity called “housework” and occasionally I do this thing called “gigging” and “working a job” so that I can afford the fancy DJ toys I look at online every day. Thanks, by the way, to DJ HearinAid for getting me addicted to these DJ gear websites (I’m being sarcastic).

That being said, I’ve made some decent headway and I hope to have a video or 2 up on the site soon. In the meantime, here are some things I’ve learned:

1. It takes hours to master your hardware. I have new respect for DJs everywhere.

2. It takes even more hours to find the right music, sound effects and audio clips to make up even 1 song! The amount of preparation time for 5 minutes on stage is shocking.

3. I’m paranoid about my laptop crashing in the middle of a song. Do all laptop performers suffer from the same fear?

4. The quickest way to learn is to play as if you’re on stage. I’ve learned more from a few rehearsal sessions than in all my hours of bashing away at the controller in bed with my headphones on.

Bottom line is that I’ve invested too much in this crazy idea for it not to work, so I’ll be keeping you posted on my progress, May great things follow!